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The descendants of a Jewish couple have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was seized by the Nazis.

Case History

As stated in the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their residence in Munich, Germany on the eve of World War II.

The legal action contends that the museum, which acquired the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was likely looted property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with damages.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the painting as property of the state and banned the family from bringing it with them. After obtaining permission from a regime representative, a trustee designated by the Nazis sold the piece on the couple's behalf. Yet, the funds from the sale were placed in a restricted account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to New York and was purchased by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Later, it was transferred through a commercial outlet to the Met, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his partner, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a family member of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The legal action claims that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and location from the plaintiffs.

To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal the manner and time the BEG came into ownership of the Painting; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich looted the canvas from the family, forced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The Stern heirs initiated a comparable case in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the artwork had probably been stolen by the regime.

The institution responded that it prioritizes its ongoing pledge to address claims from the Nazi period.

An official remarked: At no time during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the family – in fact, that knowledge did not become known until many years after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – specifically, it was documented that the work was judged to be of inferior standard than additional artworks of the same type in the collection. While The Met maintains its view that this piece entered the inventory and was sold properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution invites and will examine any new information that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer acting for the Goulandris Foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The action to take legal action against the organization and the family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are confident it will be once more.